Nest



May 14, 1929. E- EVANS 1,712,654

NEST

Filed July 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY May 14, 1929. Em 1,712,654

NEST

Filed July 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'TDR ATTO R N EY Patented May 14, 1929. r

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ALBERT E. Evans, or YAKIMA, wnsnnveron.

NEST.

Application filed July 16,

This invention relates to a hens nest, and more particularly to a novel construction of means for associating a curtain with the entrance openingot the nest,to permit the curtain to be used in various ways for varlous purposes namely as a curtain for said opening, or for the purpose of converting the ordinary nest into a trap nest when so desired.

More specifically stated, the invention contemplates the use of means including acu rtain which is capable of being supportedln one position for use as a curtain, and also capable of being automatically locked 1n a certain position to convert the ordinary'nest into a trap nest, while furthermore, the curtain can be arranged and folded to. occupy an inactive position.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is readin connection with the accompanying drawlngs, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed. i

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein Figure l is a view looking within the nest through the entrance opening, andshowing the inventionassociated therewith.

Figure 2 is a view looking from the outside of the nest showing howthe curtain is supported in a folded and inactive position.

Figure 3 is a view showing how the curtain is used to cover the entrance opening and capable oi? being adjusted to various lengths.

Figure a is a view illustiatiinc how the curtain is initially arranged when it is adapted to be used in order to convert the ordinary nest into a trap nest, andalso showing how the curtain is partially lifted by the hen entering the nest.

Figure 5 is a view showing how the cur tain is locked in agiven positionto convert the nest into a trap nest, and a Figure 6 is a detail view of the curtain.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates a portion of a nest of ordinary con struction, and which portion is provided with an entrance opening 11. As above stated, the present invention is in the nature of an'attachment for an ordinary nest, and capable of being associated with the latter,

1927. Serial No. 206,270.

so that it can be used in various ways to be hereinafter described.

The invention essentially embodies a pair of brackets 12, arranged along the side edges of the entrance opening 11 adjacent the top thereof as clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Each bracket is suitably secured to its adjacent edge and is formed at its upper end to provide a vertical extension 13 pro vided with a horizontal slot 14;.

The curtain above referred to is indicated at 15 and clearly illustrated in Figure 6, one end ofsaid curtain being folded upon itself to provide a hem to accommodate the rod 16,. the latter having its ends oit'set at a right angle and terminating to provide hooks 17 for a purpose'to be l'iereinalr'ter described. Forming part of this curtain is a metallic plate 18 which may be of any suit able size, preferably slightly less than one half of the area oi ithc curtain. One edge of this plate is rolled upon itself as at 19 to form a clamp, which receives the adjacent edge of the curtain liiand also a transverse .rod 20. The plate 19 is not otherwise at tached to the curtain l5 permanently, but use is made of a slide 21 designed to embrace the opposed longitudinal edges of both the curtain 15 and the plate 18 so that by ad justing the slide along the edges of the plate 18, the lengthot' the curtain may be varied when it is used in a manner illustrated in Figure 3. The plate is also provided with openings adjacent the corners thereof which openings are adapted to receive the extensions 13o. the brackets 12 when the curtain used illustrated in Figure 3.

W e will first consider how the curtain is supported in an inactive position, and conse quently when use or the curtainis not desired, the metallic plate 18 is arranged as illustrated in Figure 2, so that openings 22 will receive the extension 18 of the brackets 12, which support the. plate in the manner illustrated. The slide 21 is then moved in the direction of one end of the plate, thereby freeing the curtain 15 from the plate so that the curtain can be folded about the latter to bring the hooks 17 in a position to also engage the bracket extensions and be received by the horizontal slots l l. If it is desired to use the nest as an ordinary or open nest,

the attachment is allowedto remain in the position justdescribed, but if it is desired to simply cover the entrance opening by means of the curtain, so as to darken the 'ing" outwardly from the nest. I each bracket is a slide plate 24 provided with a lug extension adapted to project a slight nest, and also conceal the occupant of the nest from View, the parts are arranged as illustrated in Figure 3. For this purpose it is only necessary to disengage the hooks 17 from the bracket extensions 13, andallow the curtain 15 to depend from the plate 18 across the entrance opening as shown in Figure 3. It is manifest that by adjusting thes lide 21 along the plate 18, the length of the curtain 15' can'be regulated according to the size of the entrance opening.

' In order that the curtain may be used to convert an ordinary nest into a trap nest I employ in connection with'the curtain above described, apair of bracket plates 23 which are secured to the edges of the entrance opening adjacent the lower end thereof as clearly illustrated. I

Each of the bracket plates is formed from ;a single piece of material folded upon itself and attached tothe edge of said opening in any suitable manner. The brackets are preferably constructed to provide an inclined outer edge, the brackets themselves project- Carried by distance above the bracket plates 23, and any suitablemeans being employed for holding the plates 24 fixed with relation to their brackets in a given position. Pivoted within each bracket 23 adjacent the lower end thereof is a plate 26 used in the capacity of a catch in the manner to be hereinafter described, the pivot for-the catch being indicated at 27 while the catch is also provided with an arcuate shaped slot 28.

The slot 28 of each catch receives a stationary pin 29 to limit the movement of the catch in either direction as clearly illustrated in Figure 5.

Now, when it is desired to convert the ordinary nest into a trap nest in accordance with the present invention, the metallic plate 18 above referred to is separated from the bracket extensions 13, and the curtain reversed so that the hooks 17 can be associated with said bracket extensions and received by the horizontal slots 14 thereof. The metallic plate is then arranged upon the upper edges of the brackets 23 at an angle thereto, the

lug extensions 25' of the plates 24 being arranged in advance of the transverse rod 20 which projects beyond the closed sides of the curtain as clearly illustrated in Figure 6. When the curtain is mounted upon the nest in the manner above described, the parts are arranged as illustrated inFigure 1, so that when the henenters the nest, the plate 18 is engaged b the back of the lien and is therefore lifte'c off of the lugs'25 to the dotted line position as shown in Figure 4. As the hen passes through the entrance opening, the plate 18 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4, so that after the henenters the nest, the plate 18 strikes the inclined edges of the bracket 23, moving downwardly over said bracket until the rod 20 passes beneath the lower edges of the bracket as will be readily understood. Then as the curtain moves in the direction of the wall or partition 10, the projecting portions of the rod 20 strike the catches 26 moving them upwardly within the brackets until the lower edge or rod 20 of the curtain rests against the wall or partition 10, then these catches 26 slightly ravitate in advance of the rod 20 to lock t e curtain 20 in the position illustrated in Figure 5. The hen is then trapped in the nest, and other hens excluded, by reason of the fact that the curtain is locked in the position justdescribed, it being necessary in order to release the curtain, to elevate the catches 26 to allow the rod 20 to pass beneath the catches, whereupon the curtain can be used in any of the various ways above described.

\Vhile it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have itunderstood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted'to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A nest attachment comprising a curtain including a metallic plate secured to one edge of the curtain and arranged at one side thereof, said curtain being adapted to be ar ranged over the entrance opening of the nest, means for supporting the plate obliquely from the upper portion of the opening, with the curtain depending therefrom, and means for supporting the curtain from the upper edge of the opening, with said plate substantially parallel with the curtain.

2. The combination with a nest having an entrance opening, of a curtain including a flexible portion, and a metallic plate secured to one edge of the curtain and arranged at one side thereof, means for supporting the plate obliquely with respect to said opening, adjacent the upper edge thereof, with the curtain depending from said plate, means for adjustably connecting the curtain with the plate, whereby the length of the curtain may be varied with the plate disposed in the manner stated, and means for supporting the other end of the curtain from the upper portion of the entrance opening with said plate arranged substantially parallel therewith.

3. The combination with a nest having an entrance opening, of a curtain including a flexible portion, and a metallic plate secured to'one edge of the curtain arranged at one side thereof, brackets secured to the opposed sides of said entrance opening, means whereby said plate may be supported from the bracket obliquely thereto, a slide embracing the plate and curtain whereby the length o of the curtain depending from the plate when obliquely disposed may be Varied, and means carried by the opposed edge of the curtain for association wit-h the bracket, whereby the curtain may be arranged sub stantially over said opening with the plate arranged parallel with said opening 4:. The combination with a nest having an entrance opening, of a pair of brackets secured to the opposed side edges of said opening, a curtain including a flexible portion, a metallic plate secured to the lower edge of the curtain and arranged at one side thereof and an adjustable slide embracing the plate and said curtain, means for supporting the plate from the bracket obliquely to said opening, this curtain being adapted to be folded over said plate, means carried by one end of the curtaintor engagement with said bracket when the curtain is folded,

as described, and said last named described means supporting the curtain upon the bracket, to cover said opening with said plate arranged parallel with said curtain.

5. The combination with a nest having an entrance opening, brackets secured to the opposed edges of said opening, a curtain including a flexible portion adapted to be suspended from said brackets, and a metallic plate secured to the lower edge of the curtain, and arranged at one side thereof, ad-

ditional brackets projecting forwardly from the edges of said opening and upon which said plate is normally supported in a position to be engaged by and lifted from the brackets as the hen passes through the opening, said plate subsequently gravitating to fully cover said opening, and cooperating means carried by the last mentioned brackets, and said plate for ai'ltoniatically locking the plate in its last mentioned position.

' 6. The combination with a nest having an entrance opening, of brackets secured to the opposed side edgesthereof, a curtain including a flexible portion adapted to be suspended from said brackets, and a metallic plate secured to the lower edge of the curtain and arranged at one side thereof, additional brackets projecting forwardly of the edges of said opening and upon which said plate is normally supported obliquely and adapted to be engaged and removed from said brackets by the hen entering said nest, said plate subsequently gravitatlng to a lowered position to completely cover said opening, pivoted catches carried by the second mentioned brackets, and a rod arrange transversely of said plate to cooperate with said catches, whereby the curtain isautomatically locked in position to convert the ordinary nest into a trap nest.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

ALBERT E. EVANS. 

